Hot and cold in Palau, Philippines, Mexico, Canada & Solomon Islands

[drron]

A wonderful even exciting adventure
The problem with the Solomons is that you are about 60 years too late. I went in 1969 and had a great time. I was there for 5 weeks. I flew TAA from SYD-BNE- POM-LAE' -Rabaul -Buka to the Nissen h that was HIR. At that time there was a tourist industry with American and Japanese ex military folk.
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But the real attraction was things left over from the war. In the min street was an Americn P51 nose down into th ground. A glass bottom boat tour of the harbour revealed many landing craft with tanks and artillery. driving up the coast and damaged military equipment everywhere with rusting landing craft on the beaches.
At that time it was a British protectorate. It was peaceful and happy. I remember walking with the British consul to the theatr for film nigh. Ltss of locals came up and shook your hand. Independence really hasn't worked for them .
I spent 3.5 weeks on a medical boat going around the islands. Marvellous scenery. I had arranged that before i left.
Spent a week on Auki staying in the government guest house over Christmas.. The hospital had a mad Scot as their doctor. He had a Volvo sports car. He took me out to the airport where he attempted to reach 100mph. He did and stopped before flying into the ocean.

I loved my time there.

 

[Gladstone Tim]

Thank you @Mattg for your down-to-earth gritty recount. Captivating and informing.

 

[Bindibuys]

Thank you @Mattg we are not expecting much, just a new place to celebrate our anniversary at the end of this month.
Staying at the casino.
I hope the showers in the lounge will be working by then.

 

[Seat0B]

thanks for the TR @Mattg and welcome to the card-carrying skiers club!

 

[Scarlett]

Nice TR @Mattg.

Flashbacks to Honiara and all exactly the same as my visit in 2024. You captured the essence of the King Solomon hotel! The word I’d use to describe the staff is ‘bewildered’. Bizarre place: a hotel where the staff just don’t seem to understand how a hotel works.


Same funicular not working.


Nice coffee and breakfasts at Breakwater cafe.

 

[drron]

I see the Mendana hotel is still operating but as the Solomon Kitano Mendana hotel. But closing 1/9 until end of 2027 for renovations.
Would have been heaps better than the King Solomon.

 

[RB]

Thanks for an entertaining report Matt. Seems you handled the challenges very well

 

[VPS]

Thanks for another great TR - I'm not sure I would have coped in Mexico as well as you did

 

[Mattg]

Thank you @Mattg we are not expecting much, just a new place to celebrate our anniversary at the end of this month.
Staying at the casino.
I hope the showers in the lounge will be working by then.

I stopped in at the casino (well, the restaurant part - not the gambling part) for some lunch and some coughtails one afternoon, and it was pretty good by local standards. Hope you have a great time.

 

[Mattg]

Nice TR @Mattg.

Flashbacks to Honiara and all exactly the same as my visit in 2024. You captured the essence of the King Solomon hotel! The word I’d use to describe the staff is ‘bewildered’. Bizarre place: a hotel where the staff just don’t seem to understand how a hotel works.

Looks like your experience in Honiara was very similar to mine. Glad I'm not the only person dumbfounded by how bad the service was at King Solomon Hotel. I've seen a lot and I was honestly shocked - "bewildered" is an apt description, sadly.

I wonder if the owner, whoever that may be, has actually given the staff any training?

What was the golf like in Solomon Islands?